Phenolic composition of ten plants species used as ethnoveterinary medicines in Omusati and Kunene regions of Namibia (original) (raw)

The therapeutic benefits of phenolic compounds found in plants are well known. The purpose of this study was to determine the phenolic content of ten plant species used as ethnoveterinary treatments in Namibia's Omusati and Kunene regions. The plants of concern were Aloe esculenta, Fockea angustifolia, Boscia albitrunca, Combretum imberbe, Acacia nilotica, Colophospermum mopane, Acacia erioloba, Ziziphus mucronata, Ximenia americana, and Salvadora persica. An LC-MS approach was used to identify the compounds. To analyse high-resolution UPLC-UV/MS, a Waters Acquity ultra-performance liquid chromatograph (UPLC) with a photodiode array detector was connected to a Waters Synapt G2 quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MS). The current study identified a total of 29 phenolic compounds. Flavonoids (epicatechin, (-)-Epigallocatechin, and rutin,) were the most abundant, followed by 2R, 3S-Piscidic acid. Methylisocitric acid was found in all species investigated, with the highest quantities in A. esculenta and X. americana leaf extracts. There were differences in composition and quantity of phenolic compounds in aerial and ground sections between species. The overall findings of the present study would act as a standard for subsequent investigations into the pharmacological potentials of plants species utilized as ethnoveterinary remedies. Priority should be given to isolating, purifying, and defining the active compounds responsible for these plants' activity. In both industrialized and developing nations worldwide, plants are currently used as traditional veterinary treatments 1,2. Because they are so crucial to conventional veterinary treatment, they are therefore promising candidates for drug development 3. Secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds, with bioactive qualities are produced by plants 4. They are commonly found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, roots, leaves, and seeds, and they play important roles in structure, innate defence, reproduction, and sensorial properties (colour, bitterness, taste, and flavour) 5. Phenolic compounds are released in response to UV radiation, pathogen and parasite infection, and exposure to extreme temperatures 6. Pentose phosphate, shikimate, and phenylpropanoid pathways produce phenolic chemicals, which are secondary metabolites 7. The name "phenol" refers to a chemical structure that contains a phenyl ring with one or more hydroxyl substituents, and it is the most prevalent secondary metabolite in plants 8. Phenolic substances are made up of more than one aromatic ring and one or more hydroxyl functional groups 9. Phenolic compounds are a diverse category of molecules that have a variety of chemical configurations and are classified as monomeric, dimeric, or polymeric phenolics 10. The huge numbers of natural compounds, usually referred to as specialized (or secondary) metabolites, that are produced by plants are a useful resource for contemporary pharmacy 7. Thus, the study of bioactive compounds, extracts, and new ingredients from natural sources is currently receiving a lot of attention 11. To date, epidemiological evidence suggests that phenolic compounds have important roles, such as suppressing infections, and that they may help to reduce the occurrence of animal diseases 12. Phenolic compounds are also thought to play an important role in the treatment of veterinary diseases as natural antioxidants, antimicrobials, and antiparasitic agents 13. The goal of this study was to identify phenolic compounds in ten plant species